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Should We be Concerned about Competition between Food and Fuel?: Analysis of biofuel consumption mandates in the European Union and the United States

Should We be Concerned about Competition between Food and Fuel?: Analysis of biofuel consumption mandates in the European Union and the United States

Full Title:  Should We be Concerned about Competition between Food and Fuel?: Analysis of biofuel consumption mandates in the European Union and the United States
Author(s): Chris Charles
Publisher(s):  International Institute for Sustainable Development
Publication Date: April 1, 2012
Full Text: Download Resource
Description (excerpt):

From 2006 to 2008, in spite of worldwide record crops, global prices for traded food commodities, such as wheat, reached record price highs (World Bank, 2011). These and subsequent food price spikes have had disturbing consequences for poorer segments of society, who spend a disproportionally high share of their monthly income on food to meet their basic nutritional needs (International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, 2008). Rising prices for cereals and sugars (Overseas Development Institute, 2008) corresponded with a significant increase in global biofuel production and the introduction of government targets mandating the growing use of biofuels in transport fuel markets (Jung, Dörenberg, Rauch & Thöne, 2010).

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